Explain Aristotle’s Discussion of the “Function of a Human Being�? in Book 1 Chapter 7 Relates to His View That the Virtues Are Means Between Extremes. Essay Example
Prompt: Explain Aristotle’s discussion of the “function of a human being” in Book 1 Chapter 7 relates to his view that the virtues are means between extremes.
To start off the discussion, one must take into account that “the function of man is an activity of soul which follows or implies a rational principle” (Book 1 Chapter 7). “Now there are three things in the soul which control action and truth -- sensation, reason, desire. Of these sensation originates no action; this is plain from the fact that the lower animals have sensation but no share in action…pursuit and avoidance are in desire; so that since moral virtue is a state of character concerned with choice, and choice is deliberate desire, therefore both the reasoning must be true and the desire right, if the choice is to be good, and the latter must pursue just what the former asserts…The origin of action -- its efficient, not its final cause -- is choice, and that of choice is desire and reasoning with a view to an end. This is why choice cannot exist either without reason and intellect” (Book 6 Chapter 2). Stating that the “function of a human being” is an action in accordance to the part of the soul that has reason, Aristotle furthers the discussion by stating that all actions aim at some good and that the highest good is happiness. Every action is done for the sake of happiness and happiness is wanted for its own sake. Now in order to attain happiness, one must understand that virtue is our realization of what our happiness is. To acquire perfect virtue, one must be virtuous. To be virtuous, one must have a consistency in the repetition of good actions. To perform good actions, one must have good choice. To have good choice, the desire must be right. To understand right desire, one must have reason. To act in accordance to the part of the soul that has reason is performing the function of a human being. Therefore, the function of a human being is to attain happiness by acquiring perfect virtue by
To start off the discussion, one must take into account that “the function of man is an activity of soul which follows or implies a rational principle” (Book 1 Chapter 7). “Now there are three things in the soul which control action and truth -- sensation, reason, desire. Of these sensation originates no action; this is plain from the fact that the lower animals have sensation but no share in action…pursuit and avoidance are in desire; so that since moral virtue is a state of character concerned with choice, and choice is deliberate desire, therefore both the reasoning must be true and the desire right, if the choice is to be good, and the latter must pursue just what the former asserts…The origin of action -- its efficient, not its final cause -- is choice, and that of choice is desire and reasoning with a view to an end. This is why choice cannot exist either without reason and intellect” (Book 6 Chapter 2). Stating that the “function of a human being” is an action in accordance to the part of the soul that has reason, Aristotle furthers the discussion by stating that all actions aim at some good and that the highest good is happiness. Every action is done for the sake of happiness and happiness is wanted for its own sake. Now in order to attain happiness, one must understand that virtue is our realization of what our happiness is. To acquire perfect virtue, one must be virtuous. To be virtuous, one must have a consistency in the repetition of good actions. To perform good actions, one must have good choice. To have good choice, the desire must be right. To understand right desire, one must have reason. To act in accordance to the part of the soul that has reason is performing the function of a human being. Therefore, the function of a human being is to attain happiness by acquiring perfect virtue by